New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-08
MR.. BEECHER STILL SINKING
HIS DEATH DOUBTLESS ONLYA QUESTION
OF HOURS
LITTLE CHANGE IN HIS CONDITION YESTERDAY
LIFE SLOWLY EBBING AwAY-UNcoNsCIoUs
AND FRYE PROM PAIN-PREMoNI-

AND FRYE FROM PAIN-PREMoNI-
TIoNs OF THE ATTACK.
MT Beecher continued to sink slowly yesterday
lie showed no sign of consciousness In fact, his
condition varied little from what it had been
throughout Sunday. At2 a. m. it was stated that
the probabilities were that he would at least live
through the night
Mu'h anxiety prevailed all day to hear the
latest intelligence from the bedchamber where so
many interests are centred. The strain on the
members OF the family and on the wide circle Of
intimate friends in Plymouth Church, which has
now continued for four days, began to tell upon
their strength. But the unconscious pat lent
was wholly unaware OF the great concern aroused.
Even old-time enmitics faded out In view OF the
neancss OF the end of the long. busy and prolific
life. while those who had rcveIed and loved the
Rray-haircd pastor had their feelings of love and
devotion quiclSencl by the extremity to which he
was reduced. The only consolation was that Mr..
Bcecher's wish to be stricken down in the midst
Of his wcrlt was about TO be fulfilled
Throughout The day people thOnecd about the
plain brownstonc house built by Commodore
Stringham, where Mr.. Beccher has lived with his
son for the last three years when in Brooklyn.
They paused to cad the latest bulletin displayed
upon the newclp ST mt the foot of the stone steps
leading 10 the door and then passed on to carry
the news to their f.iends. Dr. Searle spent the
night by tie bedside of his patient, aud at z
a. m. the following bulletin was put up
m.Mr Beecher has failed gradually through the night
". s. sEARLE.
Three hours later another bulletin stated that
10 change had occurred. At noon DIR. Scarlc.
who had gone away for a brief period, returned.
and he made the following statement to the press
Tho condition OF Mr. Bccch,r does vary
gwen press last evening"
GS a s"sS S are ss an aSs In the p al
and 80 to - per minute The respiration IA also shallow
gradual failure vitality which mas been anticipated
the disease only changed by fresh
nemoTrase 40 sceen! which may or may not happen and
W. 8. sRAELE
Al 2 o'clock n slight acceleration of the pulse
was the only perccptible change.
ARRIVAL OF RELATIVES
Many Of Mr. Becchers relatives from distance
aIri, ed yesterday, among them being his grand
dausheis, the Misses Scoyllle his niece Miss
Harriet Stowe, and Mrs. Isabella Beecher Hooker
and Mis-. Boreel. Mr. Bcechcrs sisters. The Rev.
McsSs. Thomas X. Beecher and Charles Beecher
ae their way. Herbert Bccchcr the youn5 est
son, telctsraphcd from Seattle. w. T., 10 know
whether hc should c1mc TO Brooklyn: word was
sent to him that he would be too late 10 see has
father. Many friends called at the house during
the day and were received by Colonel II. B.
Beechcr and w. G.. Bccchcr.
No one except the members Of the family was
admitted to the sick loom, where unrcmttins
attention was given by trained nurses TO the
sick man. Mrs. Bccchcr thought nc recognized
her by prcssin; her hand in the morning, but was
not positive, rs he did not open his eyes or move
his head or body. Mrs. Bccchcr bears up under
the burden Of waiting for the end with n degree
.f.t ~ M,
in, al,d herself. licr health. however, has been
better since her return from Europe last summer.
Ors OF the visitors ut the house was "a long
ha ed man who said hc mind-rcader and
could cure Mr. Eccchcr lie said he understood
that the doctors had given the patient up, and
If lie could see him he would be able 10 tell
whether or not hc would live. Colonel Bcechcr
ana Dr. scarlc talked wsth the man and told
ham Mr.. BccchcI's in bhc hands of the
physicians and was bens properly cared for; and
the crank went away.
Mr. Bccchcr has not been conscious since Sat
urday afternoon. The folm of the disease he Is
suffering un.cr is sanSulnc,us apOplcAy. induced
by n gradual degeneration of the blood vessels.
Dr. Scailc is unable to say whether his bilious
attack on Friday supcrinduccd the alOplcAy or
the apOplcNy caused the nausea and other s!mp-
toms If bllIJusncss.
bAIAI lNlEkI-'l ~ liii 'AoTr
As the afternoon on the crowds around the
house increased until the district messenger
official who guards the door and the two police
men on the sidewalk had frequently to compel
the people to dslelsc. Business men coming
home from New. York, lawyers from the courts.
children Just out of school, ladies afOot and in
carriages clerks rom the biz stores in Fulton-St.
and in fact representatives of all classes were sceD
in numbers eagerly scanning the little white
bulletins The unlav orublc character of the news
caused one and all to turn away with look
of disappointment and regret, rs though tho
patient was an intimate personal friend of EACH
About o'clock Augustus StOrrs and Reuben
". Ropes, who had been condoling with the fam
ily, came out and were at once surrounded by
"A group Of earnest inquirers. They had the same
sad report To make. Mr. Becchcr was steadily
ing. lis pulse had quicicncd about tins time
t. ia and his r,spiIaiOns were also m0le rapid
having reached forty TO the minute. Yet despite
his desperate condition they said Mrs. Beecher
seemed To think IL measure OF cOnsclolSncss was
still possessed by her husband. Some OF those
outside who had had considerable experience
with apoplcXy agreed with hcr. Tie rest OF Tho
family, however, inclined to the opinion expressed
by nearly all the doctors that the patient was
far beyond the faintcst gleam of intelligence or
the slightest feeling of pain.
DR.. j. r. Moore drove up little later Dut
did not go indoors. In speaking about the case
he said he thought it possible for the patlehO
to live at least several days. There Is nothihe
remarkable about the case, he added, "at least
so far as | have been able TO ascertain, except
that the patient is Mr.. Bcechcr IL is simply an
ordinary case Of apopleXy, and exhibits all the
characteristics OF the disease There Is rupture
Of u blood vessel in the brain. Ii by the folma-
ton Of q ciot the hcmorrlaSc Is stayed In time.
and If the cot Is not too great to be absorbed Dy
the brain, there is possibility that the patienO
may survive; but how seriously impaired men
tally and physically cannot be told There nave
been cases where recovery, at least PARTIAL mas
followed even when the prJstratlon has peen 50
complete an in this instance. Nothing can 10
done, of course. except to give nature all lhe
chance possible
of rI reference